Change of Hart: Braves name team president

After originally turning down an offer, John Hart reversed course and signed a three-year deal to become president of baseball operations for the Atlanta Braves.

After originally turning down an offer, John Hart reversed course and signed a three-year deal to become president of baseball operations for the Atlanta Braves. (Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)

The Sports Xchange

Atlanta Braves name John Hart team president

Veteran baseball executive John Hart reversed course and opted to accept a three-year deal to become president of baseball operations with the Atlanta Braves.

The 66-year-old Hart, who has been acting as interim general manager, said earlier this month he preferred to remain with the team as its top adviser rather than committing to a job with such significant time demands.

Hart was the first choice of Atlanta president John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox, the Braves' former manager now serving in a top adviser role, who first tried to persuade Hart to take the job after the firing of Frank Wren Sept. 22.

"I'm delighted that John Hart has agreed to accept the position of President, Baseball Operations," Schuerholz said in a statement Thursday. "Our organization is now poised to move forward in the best possible manner to do the important work that lies ahead. John's credentials speak for themselves. He has had great success as a baseball executive and demonstrated remarkable ability to construct championship teams. We are excited by John's dynamic and positive leadership style and look forward to him leading our baseball operations."

Hart previously worked for the Texas Rangers as a senior advisor and general manager, spanning 12 years, and was general manager of the Cleveland Indians for 10 seasons.

Precise roles with the Braves will be worked out, but Hart will likely expand the hierarchy beneath him in the front-office flow chart. Similar setups are used with the Chicago Cubs, and president Theo Epstein, and in-progress with the Los Angeles Dodgers, headed by Andrew Friedman. Assistant GM John Coppolella is likely to serve a general manager role and could get the job title to match.

Coppolella, 36, is considered by many a rising front-office star. Another potential candidate discussed was Dan O'Dowd, who resigned earlier this month after 15 seasons as general manager of the Colorado Rockies.

Hart joined the Braves in November 2013. A two-time Major League Executive of the Year, Hart spent 2002-05 as GM and 2006-13 as senior advisor for the Texas Rangers. He spent 13 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, the last 10 as executive vice president and general manager.